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Posted: 10/31/2012 6:50:36 AM EDT
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Anything special I need to know about reloading for the AR10? Does it require the use of small base dies like the Garand and M1A?
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If you think the Garand and M1A need small base dies, then I'd get small base dies for the 308.
personally, I use my regular die set for my Garand and my AR10 308. just shot 80 rnds of reloads out of my AR10 today, no worries. You may want to get a (arrgh can't think of the name of it) gage that you drop your ammo in to make sure it will chamber. I run all my 308's through it and they all enter and leave fine. |
The only thing special I do for the AR-10 is reduced my expander plug to get a .003" tight neck on the case so bullet doesn't move when it hits the feed ramp. I did this with a drill & wet or dry paper, 150 grit to get size then 400 to polish. This was for a Hornady match grade sizing die. My rifle doesn't even know what factory loads taste like. 
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One thing that I learned was that you can run up loads in the AR10 with the DI autoloader just like your AR15s. Increase powder until you start to see signs of early unlock and high pressure then back off a tad (ie, extractor / ejector swipes on the head face, extrusion patterns of extractor slot or ejector pin hole on case head face, primers that look like flush rivets.)
I was always afraid to do that with the M1A and variants because of the doglegged op rod and asymmetric bolt cam roller. Second, IMO, short barreled .308s (16" and under) are quaint but not much utility. That famous SA ad showing a SEAL or facimile there-of splashing belly first down into a mudhole with a SOCOM 16 is probably phoney. If he shoots that thing with the pepper box brake or compensator his world is going to disappear in a big splash and spray of soupy mud from the side ejected gases. The 16's might be OK for suppressor extensions.
I am just getting ready to run my first batch of .308 SB FL RCBS sized rounds through my AR10-like CMMG SASS 18" bbl, even though I had no problems with the standard FL die. I basicaly bought that die to see if I could improve FTF problems with my SOCOM 16 (another story which may involve sloppy work by SA). If the 18" gun works OK with the SB I will use it for the SOCOM and the SASS and the standard FL for my bolt gun. |
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It's not spring loaded like a striker, but it does have a spring. It retards the pin's forword momentum when the bolt closes and keeps it from causing a slam-fire. The firing pin is much heavier than an AR15.
My AR10 has never tasted factory ammo either and I load my .308's for this rifle with a .020" jump measured off the Ogive that gives me sub MOA groups on ever shot, when I do my part. I love my AR10! |
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I tried some reloads with what I had laying around and was real surprised that thrown charges (43gr of TAC) with 125gr Sieera Pro Hunters, from a previous project, produced a 3" group at 200yds.
Function was 100%. My new scale came in today so I can work up some loads with the HDY 150gr SST and the Sieera 150gr match too. I used my standard 308FL die and all worked well.
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